For decades, greatest hits albums were inescapable. They summed up artists’ careers, provided intros to unknown sounds, and served as a dependable cash-grab for labels that were able to resell music they had already paid for. But now? Seems like they’re more or less done for, killed by the infinite "playlistification" of all things (unless you're trying to make a retro statement...hello White Stripes!) We spend some thinking through what the greatest hits was, what it did, and what that might tell us about the art-form shaping format known as the album. ALSO—we talk through some of the most influential greatest hits albums of all time, from the Eagles to Bob Marley.
Further reading / listening:
A Major #Mood: Spotify, Labels, and our Dismal Streaming Future - Money 4 Nothing
Why the Death of the Greatest Hits Albums and reissues is Worth Mourning - Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Pitchfork)
The Great War Against Singles - Hit Parade (Slate)
Live Streams, Protests and Music in 2021 with Jessi Olsen
Tik Tok and Music’s Mimetic Future with Cat Zhang
The Origins of the American Record Industry with Kyle Barnett
A Major #Mood: Spotify, Labels, and our Dismal Streaming Future
The Environmental Impact of Music with Kyle Devine
Who is #SaveOurStages Actually Saving?
The Music Modernization Act and the Powers That Be
Ragtime and The American Clave with Wayne Marshall
Calling Bullsh*t on the Napster Narrative
You Can't Segregate the Airwaves (but you can definitely own them)
Hipgnosis Hypnotizes the Music Industry
King Records: Rock 'n' Roll Originator, Indie Label OG and Radical Racial Integration
The Federal Music Project with Professor Kenneth Bindas
Tekashi 6ix9ine is Kind of Right: The Return of Payola
Deconstructing Prince
Live Music in Quarantine
Fiona Apple, Pitchfork, and What is a 10?
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